‘We could be a big surprise’ – Bottas and Perez on the challenge of getting Cadillac up to speed

Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were understandably buzzing when they faced the world's media following the announcement they would both be making sensational returns to the Formula 1 grid after sitting out this campaign.

The veteran duo, both 35, will line up for newcomers Cadillac next season, with 527 Grands Prix, 106 podiums and 16 Grand Prix victories between them. They will need every ounce of that experience as they battle to bring the new American squad up the grid.

Perez, who has spent time out with his family during his sabbatical, and Bottas, who has been at every race as part of his duties as Mercedes reserve, are aware of the mammoth task ahead of them, given Cadillac are kicking off from a standing start against 10 rival teams who have a wealth of experience competing in Formula 1. But that isn't fazing them.

For Perez, his focus is to find his love again for a sport that engulfed 14 years of his life, after a difficult last chapter that saw him end his time with Red Bull two years earlier than planned.

The Mexican, who is believed to have passed on an approach from Alpine and potential opportunities at other teams from 2027, believes having the opportunity to work with an aspiring team with significant resources from the ground up can help him do just that.

"My main target is to enjoy being back," said Perez, who has previously raced for Sauber, Mclaren, Force India/Racing Point and Red Bull. "I had a very difficult year, especially my final year with Red Bull. This is a sport I love, and I want to get back to enjoyment.

"This project just brings me that excitement back because I'm able to put all my years of experience, the different teams I’ve worked with, to try to help this team move forward.

"We want to move forward as quickly as possible. We know we don't have time on our side, but we also can be a big surprise, because you see with the drivers, we're bringing as much experience as possible, but also commitment – and this is the same for all the areas in the team.

"It's a new team, but there is plenty of experience in the team, in the engineering departments, mechanics – everyone has a lot of experience in the sport. So, definitely, I believe in the project [and] that we can move quickly forwards.”

Perez was unhappy with the way his time in F1 ended – and thus he sees this as an opportunity to close out his career on his terms.

"I don't think I have anything to prove," he said. "I want to enjoy he sport, the sport that I love, the sport that has given me so much.

"I couldn't afford to leave the way I left the sport, you know, and this is why I'm coming back with this new project. And yeah, I hope it's a very successful one. But amongst that, other than anything, I want to enjoy, to enjoy this comeback."

Bottas – who spent five years with World Champions Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton's team mate from 2017-2021 – has been itching to get back behind the wheel, having missed out on a renewal at Sauber, which will become the Audi works project next year.

He's thrown himself headfirst into a reserve role for Mercedes, immersing himself in every element of the team, including simulator work and engineering meetings that included discussions on development for 2026, when new chassis and power unit regulations will be introduced.

Like Perez, he knows the challenge is huge – but the desire to succeed and confidence in himself, his team mate and the team means he is certain they can make progress.

"The first talks we had with Graeme [Lowdon, Team Principal] about this opportunity were about two years ago from now, and he's always kept me in touch on how things are going and progressing," said Bottas.

"And then, early on this year, it was clear for me that this is what I want. I want to be part of this great brand, this, let's say, start-up Formula 1 team, but with great structure and big goals.

"I'm here to give everything I have to the team. With Checo, we can definitely guide to the right direction. Of course, we're realistic. It's going to be a mountain of work to do, and it's going to probably be a difficult start, because it is Formula 1 – but we're not there to stay at the back.

"We don't want to finish last. And I believe with this structure, with this group, these people, there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to get relatively quickly up to the pace, and that way enjoy some success.

"We still have quite a few years left in the tank, with Checo I think, so the goal is to enjoy the success together eventually when we get there.”

Bottas, who began his career at Williams, added that his experience switching from World Champions Mercedes to midfield runners Sauber has helped him reset his targets for what is initially achievable with Cadillac.

"It's a bit like when I moved from Mercedes to Alfa [Sauber] – I kind of had to reset goals," said Bottas, who has twice finished second in the Drivers' standings. "I've done that process already in my head for this one.

"Always mentally, if you prepare for the worst, it's better, because then whatever you achieve, that's going to be really positive and rewarding. So for me, just being involved, getting my hands dirty with the team. Once that progress and success will come, that's the trigger for me. That's going to do the thing for me and give me that reward."

Perez echoed that mindset.

"It's important to reset my targets from the past," said Perez, who helped Red Bull win the teams' championship in 2023 while finishing a career-best second in the Drivers' standings. "I'm here to progress together with the team.

"It's not where we start, it's how quickly we manage to progress. That's the main thing. I know racing drivers can get desperate. It's very easy to say it, but once you are on the grid for 24 races and you're fighting at the back, desperation can come.

"But to me, the main thing I'm here for is to make progress together with the team and to enjoy the ride, because at this point of my career, let's say that one trophy more, one less, it's irrelevant.

"I want to be able to enjoy the ride, but also just give my very best every single weekend. And if I'm able to do that for 24 weekends, then I'll be really happy."

With all this in mind, Bottas and Perez's focus is on working together as a unit, rather than seeing each other as competitors, to give Cadillac the best chance to climb the pecking order.

"Being each other's enemies, this couldn't be more the opposite than the situation we're in now," said Bottas. "We’re here to work together. We don't need to prove anything to each other.

"I have respect for Checo. I know he's got respect for me. We are here in this together and really trying to guide the team forward and give everything to the team.

"We don't need to prove anything to anyone. We've got to put the team first. That’s what we're here for and that's probably one of the biggest reasons why we were the chosen ones!

"We want to help the team. Of course, at the same time, we are competitors. We're going to drive as fast as we can. We want to perform the best we can but we have very clear priorities on this project."

Perez added: "I think having a reference like Valtteri, it's great because you know that Valtteri straight away will be on it and it's definitely a great reference.

"For Valtteri, myself, it's how fast we are able to move as a team forward. This is down to Valtteri and myself, to the whole team, how quickly we can integrate to each other and move this team forward."

Bottas has had some limited running in old-spec F1 machinery as part of his Mercedes role, but Perez has been away from the wheel entirely since leaving Red Bull at the end of last season.

With that in mind, Cadillac are working to get them some mileage to get the cobwebs off ahead of pre-season testing, where there will be three tests (one in Barcelona and two in Bahrain) rather than just one to account for the brand-new cars to meet the new regulations.

As the team don't have any of their own cars to run, given they don't have an "old" car and their new car won't be ready until next year in line with their rivals, they will have to borrow one from another team.

As they will run Ferrari power units next season, it's likely that the laps will be in old-spec Ferraris.

"We'll be introducing car testing as well this year," said Lowdon. "Obviously, we have to work with others to be able to do that, but that's perfectly allowable under the regulations.

"We just have a plan to steadily build up so that when we get to Melbourne, we hit the ground running."

Perez added: "Obviously, I haven't driven anything for a while other than karting with my son. But there are some plans with the team to test a Formula 1 car before the end of the year.

"Next year, with so much testing that we're going to have, it's going to make that dust go away extremely quickly. I know what Formula 1 is about and I will be ready to deliver from the first race onwards.”